Systems and Methods of Using Motion Control to Navigate Panoramas and Virtual Tours

Abstract

A mobile device is configured to teleshift from a first lateral viewing perspective to a second lateral viewing perspective of a virtual tour object. The mobile device includes a sensor, a processor and a display. The sensor detects a teleshifting motion of the mobile device caused by a user, and the processor determines if a magnitude of the teleshifting motion is greater than a threshold. If the magnitude of the teleshifting motion is greater than the threshold, then the display teleshifts by transitioning from a first lateral viewing perspective to a second lateral viewing perspective of the virtual tour.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computerized method for teleshifting from a first lateral viewing perspective to a second lateral viewing perspective of a virtual tour object, the method useful in association with a mobile device configured to be hand-held by a user, the teleshifting method comprising:
 detecting a teleshifting motion of a mobile device configured to conduct a virtual tour for a user;   evaluating a magnitude of the teleshifting motion; and   if the magnitude of the teleshifting motion is greater than a threshold, then teleshifting from a first lateral viewing perspective to a second lateral viewing perspective, and wherein the first lateral viewing perspective and the second lateral viewing perspective are adjacent lateral viewing perspectives of the virtual tour.   
     
     
         2 . The teleshifting method of  claim 1  wherein the first lateral viewing perspective and the second lateral viewing perspective are adjacent lateral viewing perspectives of a virtual tour object. 
     
     
         3 . The teleshifting method of  claim 2  wherein the teleshifting includes teleturning from the first lateral viewing perspective to the second lateral viewing perspective, and wherein the first lateral viewing perspective and the second lateral viewing perspective are both positioned around the virtual tour object. 
     
     
         4 . The teleshifting method of  claim 1  wherein the teleshifting motion includes a flick. 
     
     
         5 . The teleshifting method of  claim 4  wherein detecting the flick includes detecting angular acceleration along a substantially vertical axis of the mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . The teleshifting method of  claim 5  wherein the flick is one of a left flick and a right flick. 
     
     
         7 . The teleshifting method of  claim 1  wherein the teleshifting motion includes a double flick. 
     
     
         8 . The teleshifting method of  claim 7  wherein detecting the double flick includes detecting angular acceleration along a substantially vertical axis of the mobile device. 
     
     
         9 . The teleshifting method of  claim 8  wherein the double flick is one of a left double flick and a right double flick. 
     
     
         10 . The teleshifting method of  claim 1  wherein the threshold is user adjustable. 
     
     
         11 . A mobile device configured to teleshift from a first lateral viewing perspective to a second lateral viewing perspective of a virtual tour object, the mobile device comprising:
 a sensor configured to detect a teleshifting motion of the mobile device caused by a user;   a processor configured to determine if a magnitude of the teleshifting motion is greater than a threshold; and   a display configured to teleshift if the magnitude of the teleshifting motion is greater than the threshold, wherein the teleshifting causes the display to transition from a first lateral viewing perspective to a second lateral viewing perspective, and wherein the first lateral viewing perspective and the second video lateral viewing perspective are adjacent lateral viewing perspectives of the virtual tour.   
     
     
         12 . The mobile device of  claim 11  wherein the first lateral viewing perspective and the second lateral viewing perspective are adjacent lateral viewing perspectives of a virtual tour object. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile device of  claim 12  wherein the teleshifting includes teleturning from the first lateral viewing perspective to the second lateral viewing perspective, and wherein the first lateral viewing perspective and the second lateral viewing perspective are both positioned around the virtual tour object. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile device of  claim 11  wherein the teleshifting motion includes a flick. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile device of  claim 14  wherein detecting the flick includes detecting angular acceleration along a substantially vertical axis of the mobile device. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile device of  claim 15  wherein the flick is one of a left flick and a right flick. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile device of  claim 11  wherein the teleshifting motion includes a double flick. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile device of  claim 17  wherein detecting the double flick includes detecting angular acceleration along a substantially vertical axis of the mobile device. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile device of  claim 18  wherein the double flick is one of a left double flick and a right double flick. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile device of  claim 11  wherein the threshold is user adjustable. 
     
     
         21 . A computerized method for navigating a menu of a panorama, useful in association with a mobile device configured to be handheld by a user, the method comprising:
 detecting a flicking motion of a mobile device configured to navigate a supplemental panoramic data menu for a user, and wherein the flicking motion is substantially around an axis substantially perpendicular to a display of the mobile device; and   evaluating a magnitude and a direction of the flicking motion, wherein:   if the magnitude of the flicking motion is greater than a threshold and is clockwise, then traversing along a first direction of the menu; and   if the magnitude of the flicking motion is greater than a threshold and is counter-clockwise, then traversing along a second direction of the menu.   
     
     
         22 . A mobile device configured to navigate a menu of a panorama, the mobile device comprising:
 a sensor configured to detect a flicking motion of a user holding the mobile device, wherein the flicking motion is intended to navigate a supplemental panoramic data menu for the user, and wherein the flicking motion is substantially around an axis substantially perpendicular to a display of the mobile device; and   a processor configured to evaluate a magnitude and a direction of the flicking motion, wherein:   if the magnitude of the flicking motion is greater than a threshold and is clockwise, then traversing along a first direction of the menu; and   if the magnitude of the flicking motion is greater than a threshold and is counter-clockwise, then traversing along a second direction of the menu.